Black Friday is a familiar term for the American consumer. It usually designates the Friday after Thanksgiving Thursday in November to incentive shoppers to get a headstart on the holiday gift season. However, several online retailers have taken Black Friday to the next level, creating a Cyber Monday, following Black Friday. Now, one well-known online retailer has created another shopping experience, pushed up to July. Black Friday is now two days occurring nearly 5 months earlier! Black July anyone?
The impetus, of course, is enticing shoppers to take advantage of special deals, available only during these days. Retailers are creating a false sense of urgency, hoping to send the message that if one misses this opportunity, there will not be another, or at least not until the next Black Friday.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)
There are many passages in the Bible, like this one from 2 Peter, that describe the patience of God. It is a remarkable testimony of the grace and mercy of God who loves us so much that He desires none of us to perish but all to have eternal life through faith and belief in His Son, Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, this grace has lulled some into a sense of complacency about their eternal destiny. Some people believe they have time to make a decision about God. Before they reach that last moment of life, they rationalize and reason to themselves they can live a life of their own choosing and morality. However, when they perceive that their demise is imminent, they will choose God and ask for forgiveness. After all, if God can forgive someone of their sins in the last moment of their life, like the thief on the Cross crucified next to our Lord Jesus Christ, He can certainly forgive them. There is no urgency to make this decision.
It is true that God can forgive one’s sins, even in the last moment of their life, if one’s repentance is genuine and understanding of who Jesus Christ is. The more relevant question is how will anyone know when their last moment of life will be? In spite of medical and technological advances, no one can accurately predict the moment one will die. If it comes before one can make a decision to follow Jesus Christ, it will be too late.
For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 (ESV)
With God, there is no false sense of urgency. Judgment will come for this world and judgment will also come to everyone who has ever lived. There is a true and sobering urgency to make a decision to follow Jesus Christ and each passing moment brings us closer to that Judgment Day, Unlike the Black Fridays and its various incarnations, there will be no additional Judgment days.
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
The Bereans Blog 